Worcester License Commission approves series of one-day licenses, postpones several items

The City of Worcester License Commission on Sept. 4 approved several one-day liquor and entertainment requests, a package-store transfer and a new beer-and-wine license while postponing items that lacked applicants or required further paperwork.

The commission, chaired by Anthony Vigliotti, unanimously approved a one-day liquor permit for Alexis Kelleher for a private event at Crust Bakeshop, 118 Main Street, on Sept. 14. Kelleher told the commission she would supply TIP-certified servers from her other business, Birchtree Bread Company, and estimated about "30" attendees. Commissioners Maritza Cruz and Sharron Fisher voted yes; Vigliotti cast the deciding vote, 3-0.

The commission also approved a one-day liquor and entertainment license for Our Lady of Mercy Maronite Catholic Church, 341 June Street, for a Middle Eastern festival planned Sept. 28. Reverend Peter Frenje said the parish expects "200 to 500" attendees, will confine alcohol to a designated area and will obtain beer/wine from a local store; he confirmed TIP-certified service. The motion passed 3-0.

Allen's Café and Catering received approval for multiple one-day permits for events at several locations (including Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and sites on Main Street and Lincoln Square). Denise Kapolka provided corrected dates and said some events expect larger crowds (she indicated about 175 attendees for one October date and 50 for another). The motion passed unanimously.

The commission approved a transfer of a package-store malt-and-wine license for Colony Farms (South Rashad Corporation) at 1127 Main Street; Neeru Kumar Burad identified himself as the buyer and the police background check raised no objections. The vote was 3-0.

Restaurant Soul of Mexico, Inc., 538 Pleasant Street, was granted a beer-and-wine (restaurant) license after commissioners said they inspected the premises. Manager Adrian Acosta Cebedo described staff training and ID-verification procedures, noting a policy of carding anyone who looks under 30 and use of cameras. The commission approved the license "subject to the area being secured with a locked door," a condition added after a site visit. The motion passed 3-0.

Several items were postponed or filed with no action because applicants were not present or additional paperwork was needed: the Pleasant Street block party entertainment request (filed/no action), Reginald Logrillo one-day events (filed/no action for Sept. 6; the Sept. 20 date postponed to Sept. 18), Off the Rails LLC change-of-manager/officers application (postponed to Sept. 18), 1000 Main Street, Inc. (postponed to Sept. 18 so applicants could supply missing state paperwork), and Stella Dagonia LLC d/b/a Bets on Grafton Street (postponed to Sept. 18). All postponement motions carried by recorded unanimous votes when recorded.

Votes at a glance (action, outcome, vote):
- Alexis Kelleher, 118 Main St., 1-day liquor license (Sept. 14) — approved; vote 3-0 (Cruz yes, Fisher yes, Vigliotti yes).
- Our Lady of Mercy Maronite Catholic Church, 341 June St., 1-day liquor & entertainment (Sept. 28) — approved; vote 3-0.
- Allen's Café and Catering, multiple 1-day permits (dates/locations corrected by applicant) — approved; vote 3-0.
- Colony Farms (South Rashad Corporation), 1127 Main St., transfer of package malt & wine license — approved; vote 3-0.
- Soul of Mexico, Inc., 538 Pleasant St., restaurant beer-and-wine license — approved subject to secured area (locked door); vote 3-0.
- Pleasant Street block party (Holly St.), entertainment request — filed, no action taken (applicant absent); motion carried 3-0 to file.
- Reginaldo Logrillo, 158 Commercial St., one-day liquor (Sept. 6) — filed/no action; Sept. 20 date postponed to Sept. 18; motions carried 3-0.
- Off the Rails LLC, 90 Commercial St., change of manager/officers — postponed to Sept. 18; vote 3-0.
- 1000 Main Street, Inc., package-store amendment (status) — postponed to Sept. 18 for missing paperwork; vote 3-0.
- Stella Dagonia LLC d/b/a Bets on Grafton St. — postponed to Sept. 18; vote 3-0.

The commission's approvals were routine and conditioned in one case (Soul of Mexico) on securing a staff-only area with a locked door before operation. Several postponements reflected either absent applicants or missing documentation needed for state-level review. Chair Anthony Vigliotti and commissioners Maritza Cruz and Sharron Fisher voted consistently on the listed motions. Deborah Steele of the Office of Inspectional Services and Sergeant Thomas Needham of the Worcester Police Department were present for staff reports and background checks.

With these votes the commission cleared several one-day events and advanced license transfers and a new restaurant license while scheduling follow-ups for items that require additional documents or in-person applicants.